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Well then, what are people’s fancies for the 5 days??
Most of the Cheltenham winners are going to be going off at skinny prices but a few of them tend to get beaten here every year.
Go Native has it all to do to turn Leopardstown form around with Hurricane Fly but he’s undoubtedly improved since Christmas. If Hurricane Fly is 100% he will win but I don’t expect him to beat Go Native point less again. Master Minded and Cooldine look set to make it a Ruby Walsh treble. I’ll take Big Zeb (spin over hurdles to have sharpened up the jumping) and Joncol to chase them home.
The Guinness Gold Cup on Wednesday lacks a Kauto Star or a Denman but it looks an interesting contest all the same. If Imperial Commander can go right handed I’d expect him to win. I’m willing to ignore his King George run on the basis that NTD was horribly out of form at the time. I can’t see Schindler’s Hunt staying and I don’t think the ground will be quick enough for War Of Attrition but he should go well fresh. Air Force One is a bit of a hound but he did run well here last year and he might fill one of the places along with Notre Pere. I can’t wait to see Dunguib again on Wednesday. He looked a serious machine at Cheltenham. The form of Sweeps Hill’s bumper hasn’t really worked out great but he couldn’t have been more impressive that day and he could be the one to chase Dunguib home.
Garde Champetre will be giving away lumps of weight in the La Touche on Thursday but if he’s over his Fairyhouse exertions he should be good enough to provide JP with a welcome tonic. The aptly named Punchestowns will be a warm order in the Stayers Hurdle but I think Fiveforthree is going to give him plenty to think about after his second in the Aintree Hurdle. He’s related to Celestial Gold so I don’t forsee the step up in trip causing too many problems. The Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer goes in the Swordlestown and even though he has to concede 7lbs to Tatenen I reckon he’s good enough to do the Arkle Swordlestown double last achieved by the great Moscow Flyer in 2002.
The Champion Hurdler Punjabi lines up on Friday looking for his third consecutive win at the festival. He holds most of this field on Cheltenham form and will be a worthy favourite. I’m willing to take him on with Quevega though. She was seriously impressive at Cheltenham and she’ll be in receipt of 5lbs from Punjabi. The one concern I have is that she bombed out totally here last year but I reckon the ground will be much more to her liking this time round. Solwhit won’t go unsupported as well I suppose. It looks like the ground will be suitable for Mikael D’Haguenet on Friday and he’ll take some beating if he’s in the form he was in at Cheltenham. Bouggler, Copper Bleu and China Rock are all decent sorts who’ll look to give him a race but I’d take a chance on Cousin Vinny if he’s any sort of an e/w price. I thought he actually ran quite respectably in the Supreme Novices given his problems travelling and I think the step up to 2m4 will see an improvement in him.
Saturday looks the weakest of the 5 days on paper and I wouldn’t expect a bumper crowd with the Munster Leinster rugby match on in the evening. The 4yo Hurdle is the feature and I’ve seen that Ebadiyan is not among the entries which is a great shame. It would have brought the house down if he’d have won. Its left to his old rivals Mourad and Jumbo Rio to battle it out once more and I’d give my preference to Mourad at this stage. He ran a cracker at Cheltenham and I thought personally that Ruby had given him a lot to do in the Triumph. I expect he’ll make amends on Saturday.
Enjoy the week!
Not sure if it’s because I’ve been following the racing a lot more over the past couple of years so I know more of the horses, but this years Punchestown seems the best I can remember; haven’t been for about 3 years, but really wish I was in Naas now; can just taste the Guinness…..
I seem to be one of the few people in the world who loves XC racing – can’t wait for the La Touche Cup etc.
Freney’s Well to start it off tommorow. Agree with you on Quevega IC – can’t help but feel the bookies have the front two the wrong way round
Apparently she was off colour last year prior to bombing at Punchestown and has won there since (albeit against vastly inferior opposition). Already got my Cheltenham wheelbarrow stocked for 2010
Similar viewpoint to Marble.
There is a Hunter Chase, TWO Bumpers, and three Grade 1s, meaning that there is only one race left to bet in.
I’m pleasantly surprised that Perfect Reward is 23 or 24 on betfair, rather than the 12/1 in the RP, but I’ll wait until tomorrow afternoon to have a bet. I’ll also have a looksee for another horse – looked at about a dozen so far, and there isn’t much that turns me on.
There is a Hunter Chase, TWO Bumpers, and three Grade 1s, meaning that there is only one race left to bet in.
It’s not just any Hunter Chase though. It’s the Ladies Cup over Punchestown’s famous banks course. Have to agree with IS here. These banks races, x-country, whatever you want to call them, are brilliant.
And sure it wouldn’t be an Irish festival if there weren’t twenty bumpers to be run!
An Cathaoir Mor will carry my cash in the bumper. Had a nice spin on the level the last day at the Curragh having to give weight to Zarinava. I think he could potentially be a lot better than his current mark of 113.
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You’re moving too fast for me IC I’m still trying toget my head round the novice hurdle.
I am hoping for about 3/1 Ruby getting the treble but I could be dreaming. So I’ll wait until all the books open up before comitting myself to that one.
Not like Cheltenham thisis it? bookies don’t seem keen to put up prices for any of the races.
I am hoping Hurricane Fly wins this. Not just from a finacial point of veiw but from a good for racing point of view. A good win here and we can look forward to a Hurricane Fly V Binocular clash which would be great for the CH.
The main worry for HF is that Noel Meade is a much wiser man than he was when Go Native and Hurricane Fly met last time.
He won’t be wanting to get into any kind of sprint to the line with Hurricane Fly like he did last time. You can bet your boots this is going to be run at a very strong pace and Go Native will be kept handy enough to take it up maybe as far as 3 out. For me that’s the only way he has of beating Hurricane Fly, he’s got to make this as much a test of stamina as it will be speed.
If HF isn’t 100% or if there are any chinks in his armour Go Native will expose them this time. Pity that 4/1 isn’t with quarter the odds.
If the race goes like I think it will and Hurricane Fly beats Go Native in the same manner as he did last time then surely he will be made favourite for next years champion?
BTW what on earth are they doing starting so late? Hope none of the horses decide to have there late afternoon nap during the races.
Shouldn’t that be the Hurrican Fly v Punjabi clash?
I’d love to see Hurrican Fly win easily, as we all know the lateral form lines are very exciting, hopefully todays the day they are franked. 2m hurdling desperately needs a star.
Think Cooldine could perhaps be turned over if the ground is genuinely soft.
Horner Woods looks well priced for an e/w @ 16-1 with Stan James and he’d be the one for me.
Also fancy Kempes e/w @ 14-1 against Hurricane Fly, think he could go well on soft.
Hurricane Fly, Master Minded and Cooldine all look obvious choices – hence why I have backed them.
All I need now, to back that
judgement
is a bit of
luck
.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Interesting Bulwark, i thought Kempes would prefer good ground from my impressions. (Prepares to get egg on his face
)Bit of unenthusiastic punting card for me on this occasion. I’ve had some money at 4/1 for Go Native, he travelled so well against Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown and bundled the last flight to end his chance, that said, I don’t think he would have beat Hurricane Fly anyway. Taking the chance he has improved and will come here bouncing from his Cheltenham victory and if Hurricane Fly isn’t on song he will pounce.
Big Cooldine fan, but I won’t punt him at his price, felt Horner Woods somewhat got gifted it’s placing in the RSA with so many around not performing. Looks a no bet for me but a nice race in prospect
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Didn’t quite get 3’s Ruby’s treble but near enough that it doesn’t matter.
I am a huge fan of Imperial Commander but he has tried this trip more than once an failed. Notre Pere stays forever and I amsure he will test IC to the full.
Due to the ground most likely being in his favour this has been the race Jonjo had in mind for Alberta’s Run since the beginning of the season. I am far from confident he is good enough to win this and even had doubts he would turn up. There must be a chance Imp won’t stay and Notre Pere is beatable and Jonjo’s is a different horse when he gets his ground.
What I did do last week was to back him in a few EW doubles with my number one horse for Cheltenham Crack Away Jack. Huge odds and a crazy bet perhaps but the win part would win me more than the last two Chelters put together.
I’ll be delighted if he makes the first 3 which would make me more than happy.
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I agree with Marb that Silverburn is interesting, and that his lack of actual wins is a query, though he should safely fill one of the 4 places.
Of the 3 apparent ‘good things’, Masterminded would worry me more than the others, particularly if the ground became attritional.For next season, I’ll have to learn the characteristics of the various Irish tracks.
Listened to the first race on timeform radio, instead of going to the bookies. Put a fiver on Katy Walsh’s mount, so I’ll be breaking even today.
Didn’t realise that I should have been taking the 23 or 24 about Perfect Reward during the night. He is now 11 or 11.5. Hope the bugger loses.
Have put a tenner on Cabin Point, because she was in good form in the autumn and has come back after a break.
Also put a small amount on the short-priced ACM, and the usual £2 on The Last Derby because he is wearing first-time blinkers.
That is definitely it.
Hope you lot are having fun with your Grade 1s.
Interesting Bulwark, i thought Kempes would prefer good ground from my impressions. (Prepares to get egg on his face
)Not really a case of egg on ones face tbr, I think that was a better performance from Kempes than the rest of his performances this season, but at the same time it wasnt a beautiful performance, got the e/w up anyway. For me though, Hurricance Fly has easily beaten Kempes on what is probably IMO Kempes ideal ground, so the form would look pretty solid.
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